HAILAKANDI, June 17 - Minister for Water Resources Keshav Mahanta visited the flood-hit areas of Hailakandi district today.

On his arrival from Karimganj, the Minister who was accompanied by the Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department Borsing Rongpi and OSD to Water Resources Minister Dibakar Bhattacharjee, went to the worst flood-hit Lala Revenue Circle where he inspected the embankment breach site.

Officials of the district administration and water resources briefed the Minister about the prevailing flood situation in the district and the slew of steps initiated to provide succor to the affected people.

At the Hailakandi Circuit House, Mahanta met representatives of different organisations and flood-affected people and assured them that the Government would extend all possible assistance. Deputy Commissioner Adil Khan and local MLA Anowar Hussain Laskar were also present.

The Minister was scheduled to hold a review meeting with the Deputy Commissioners of Hailakandi, Cachar and Karimganj and officials of the Water Resources Department at Silchar Circuit House late in the evening. MLAs of the three districts will be present.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in Hailakandi district remained unchanged with the Katakhal, Dhaleswari and Barak flowing above the danger level.

More than two lakh people were adversely affected in the worst flood-hit district of Assam. Around 55,000 affected people housed in 87 relief camps have been provided with food, medicine and water, besides purifier packets. Medical teams have been pressed into service in the affected areas. Several roads are still under water, thus disrupting vehicular movement.

Hailakandi district remained cut off from the rest of the State. In all, 316 persons have so far been evacuated to safer places by SDRF and NDRF personnel, Deputy Commissioner Khan said. Khan has been touring different parts of the district and overseeing relief and rescue operations. Of the four revenue circles, Lala has been badly affected by the floods with close to 60,000 people of 40 villages being badly affected.

One person died yesterday while another youth was reported missing in Hailakandi district.

Deputy Commissioner Khan has asked the Veterinary, Animal Husbandry and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs departments to ensure fodder to over two lakh affected animals, both small and big, besides poultry. Wheat bran has been lifted from Silchar today for the affected livestock.

Piped water supply has been disrupted in the municipal areas of Hailakandi town, Lala town and in South Hailakandi areas following dislocation of pipes that are four-five feet underwater. The Executive Engineer of Public Health Engineering of Hailakandi Division, AB Choudhury said the department is trying its utmost to soon restore water supply in the affected areas. The pipes have been dislocated primarily in Bahadurpur area.